From start to finish, Joshua Keadle's hearing Monday on a first-degree murder charge lasted less than two minutes, but what's next could impact the 36-year-old for the rest of his life.

Out of convenience, Keadle was in a Tecumseh courtroom.

Advertisement

“We're scheduled today for arraignment,” said the honorable Ricky Schreiner of 1st judicial district. “However, defendant has filed a plea in abatement.”

It's now up to the district judge to decide if Keadle will go to trial for the first-degree murder charge.

Last month, a Nemaha county judge bound over the case, connected to the killing of 19-year-old Ty Thomas of Omaha.

Thomas was a Peru State College student when she was last seen in 2010.

Prosecutors have said Keadle told authorities he and Thomas had sex the night she disappeared and that Thomas threatened to report he sexually assaulted her.

Keadle's attorney is challenging evidence the state submitted and argues whether there's proof his client committed a crime at all.

“Your honor, I think up there with you, you have exhibits 11 and 12,” said Jeff Pickens, Keadle's attorney, in court. “There's a transcript of the preliminary hearing, along with exhibits I've offered as support of the plea in abatement.”

If the district judge agrees with the county judge that there's sufficient evidence, then the case moves forward in Nemaha county.

If the case gets dismissed, the state must go through the motions again.

The state attorney general's office is prosecuting Keadle’s case.

Judge Schreiner has given the state and Keadle's attorney until April 27 to submit briefs.